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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. M. WALKER.

GOMBINEDPOOL BACK AND BALL SPOTTER. No. 323,835. ented Aug. 4, 1885.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. M. WALKER.

GOMBINED POOL BACK AND BALL SPOTTER.

Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

ilnrrn STATES THOMAS M. lVALKER OF BELLEFONIAINE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO JOHN IV. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED POOL RACK AND BALL-SPOTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 323,835, dated August4, 1885.

Application filed March 12, 1855.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. WALKER, of Belleiontaine, in the county ofLogan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Pool- Rack, Ball-Spotter, and Game-Register;and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make. and use it,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in an adjustable pool-rack,ball-spotter, and game- 1 register combined; and it consists,first, in the combination of the triangle with ball-racks which arehinged to opposite sides, and gates for keeping the balls in the racksuntil it is desired to empty them into the triangle; sec- 0nd, thecombination of a slotted support which'is suspended from the ceilingover the table, the slide which moves in the slot, the triangle which isconnected to the slide by means of rods, the ball-racks which are at- 25 tached to the triangle, and the counter-weight for balancing the racksand triangle; third, the combination of the slotted support, the slidewhich moves in the support, the spring which is connected to thesupport, andwhich 0 is operated by the slide, the dog which is attachedto the lower end of the spring, and the notched slide'which moves in thestationary register which is secured to the lower end of the slottedsupport, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which is to besuspended over pooltables and in which the ball-racks are looselyconnected to the triangle, so that the balls can (No model.l

- rod 0, upon which the counter-weight D moves.

This weight is connected to the slide B by means of suitable cords orchains, which are passed over the guide-pulleys E, secured to theceiling. This weight should be just heavy enough to serve as acounter-balance for the triangle and ball-racks connected thereto.

The slide B consists of a suitable rectangular frame, which movesvertically upon the slotted support, and which has a triangle, F,rigidly secured to it by means of the rods G. This slide and thetriangle are secured rigidly together, for the purpose of raising andlowering the triangle in relation to the table at any time. Hinged orotherwise loosely connected to opposite sides of the triangle are thetwo ball-racks H, which are supported at their outer ends by means ofthe chains I, which chains are connected at their inner and upper endsto the slide B. The slide, the triangle, and the racks, being thussecured together, are all raised and lowered at the same time, and areheld in any desired position by means of the counter-weight.

In order to prevent the balls from dropping from the inner ends of theracks upon the table, or into the triangle above it, until it is desiredto do so, each rack is provided with a spring-wire, L, which serves as astop for the balls, and thus keeps them in position until it is desiredto empty them into the rack.

As each player pockets a ball the ball is taken from the pocket anddeposited in one of the partitions in the rack, and the ball then runsdown to the inner and lower end of the rack, where it remains ready tobe discharged into the triangle. WVhen the game is completed, and it isdesired to discharge the balls 5 from the racks into the triangle, thecords or chains N, which are connected to the wires, are pulled up so asto raise the wires upward, and the balls drop into the triangle, whichis held supported about threerfourths of an inch above the table. Theracks are given just sufficient inclination to cause the balls to runreadily from the triangle whenever they are left free to do so.

Secured rigidly to the lower end of the slotted support A is the slottedregister 0, which has a series of numbers marked upon it. Moving in thisslotted register is a slide, P, which has its upper edge notched tocorrespond with the figures on the register,and with which notches thedog Q engages, for the purpose of pushing the slide forward each timethe dog is operated. The end of the slide moves from figure to figure,and thus keeps tally of the number of games played.

Secured to the side of the slotted support is the bent spring R, to thelower end of which the dog is loosely connected. Placed inside of theslotted support is a block, S, which is rigidly secured to the slide soas to move with it, and which block, each time that the slide, triangle,and racks are lowered into position to place the balls for a new game,forces the lower end of the spring outward by striking against its lowercurved end, and this spring forces the dog outward so as to move theslide another notch forward. When the triangle and racks are raisedabove the table,the spring returns to position,and the dog is drawn backready to operate the slide when the parts are again lowered.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of thetriangle with the racks attached to opposite sides thereof and asuitable support for the racks and triangle, the support being adaptedto be raised and lowered, carrying the racks and triangle with it,substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the slotted support, the slide, and counter-weightwith the triangle and the racks, which are secured to opposite sidesthereof, substantially as described.

The combinz'ttion of a suitable support, the triangle, the two racksconnected thereto, and the wires which act as stops to keep the balls inplace in the racks, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the slotted support, the slide and block, whichmove vertically thereon, the spring, the dog connected to the lower endof the spring, and the notched slide placed in the register,substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in a single apparatus, of an automatic gameregister, a triangle, the ball-racks connected thereto, and acounter-weight forholding these parts suspended in any desired position,substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. XVALKER.

XVitnesses:

J. H. Dnrnnns, E. J. ITouttmsrmn.

